Entourage – Doug Ellin

September 4, 2015October 21, 2015 / ReelDecisions / Leave a comment

Entourage starring Adrian Grenier, Jerry Ferrara, Kevin Connolly, Jeremy Piven, and Kevin Dillon.
Photo: Warner Bros.

Fans of the popular HBO show Entourage waited years for the movie to happen, and when it finally did they (along with critics) mostly bashed it or didn’t even bother watching it. After a week or so, Entourage the movie slunk out of theatres, labeled a box office “flop”. The Guardian critic said it best, “Entourage is like an enthusiastic puppy, slightly tipsy on beer, humping on a stripper’s leg, but desperate to please nonetheless”. Feminists will cringe, professional critics will groan, but true fans of the show with low enough expectations will laugh and cherish the 104 minute catch-up session with Vinny, E, Turtle, Drama, and Ari.

Vince is single again and trying his hand at directing, Sloan is pregnant, Drama is (still) unemployed, and Ari is finally trying to relax. That’s just how it starts; the rest is just like an extra, extra long episode. It’s not like people didn’t binge-watch the show to begin with, so the 1 hour and 45 minutes isn’t too much to ask of the audience. Since the writer and director are the same as the show, it doesn’t stray too far in terms of content; you still get your beautiful women, nudity, sex, drugs, alcohol, and ridiculously foul language. Of course, you also get the cameos. Entourage is packed with them (40 plus change, if you’re counting)! Some actors/athletes/musicians play themselves (Bob Saget, Gary Busey, Liam Neeson, Ronda Rousey, Mark Wahlberg, just to name very few) and some play key characters (Billy Bob Thornton and Haley Joel Osment) but all of them are just along for the ride so the audience can say, “Oh, look, it’s ____!” and to make them feel like they’re getting a tiny glimpse of Hollywood “behind the scenes”. It might get old for some people, but it’s still fun to see.

Entourage is crass, blatant macho-ism, but so was the show. It’s either considered hilarious or incredibly pathetic, there’s nothing really in between. So if you lean more towards the former, give it a chance and laugh away the evening; otherwise, steer clear – you’ll only be disappointed. Finally, if you’ve never seen the show it’s likely that you won’t get a lot of what’s going on since many of the jokes and quick banter have a lot to do with the characters’ past relationships (with the industry and with each other), so it may not be worth it.

Despite not doing so well in theatres, it’ll likely be high on the download, rental, and purchase list for those who didn’t get a chance to see it during its short stint, or those who just want to complete their collections. There are some TV characters you just miss spending an evening with, and these guys are some of them. Unfortunately, given the lack of success, it’ll probably be the last time you see them – so treasure your time together and move on.

Entourage was released in May 2015 and will be available for purchase/rental on September 29, 2015. Available now on Apple TV.

Watch the trailer:

Mad Max: Fury Road – George Miller

July 22, 2015April 1, 2016 / ReelDecisions / 1 Comment

Mad Max: Fury Road Starring Tom Hardy and Charlize Theron.
Photo Credit: Jasin Boland© 2015

If there’s one thing everyone who watches Mad Max: Fury Road can agree on, it’s the fact that it is the definition of “intense”. It is two hours of absolute mayhem with only a couple scenes where you can actually breathe and relax your body… but only for a few seconds. There are countless post-apocalyptic car chases involving crazed, wide-eyed characters; plenty of hand-to-hand combat; a handful of models on the run; and a mostly-silent Tom Hardy caught in the middle of the chaos. Dialogue and backstory are limited, but the gist of the story isn’t that difficult to understand.

It’s a barren world consisting of mostly sand and heat and appears to be set far in Earth’s future after what one can only assume is some nuclear disaster. Those who have survived are struggling with day to day life and fighting over oil and water. The man villain, called Immortan Joe, is hoarding a large water supply and imprisoning women who have been untouched by deformity as his wives. When one of his best (Furiosa, played by Charlize Theron) decides to rebel, all hell breaks loose. The unlucky Max (Tom Hardy) is literally caught in the middle of the chase but teams up with Furiosa when his options run out. It becomes obvious that Max has some issues relating to whatever happened in his past, but we’ll have to wait for the sequel to learn more – and there will definitely be a sequel.

Thankfully for the younger generation, watching the original Mad Max trilogy from the 70’s and 80’s (Mad Max, The Road Warrior and Beyond the Thunderdome, all starring Mel Gibson) is not necessary; but given that the writing and directing is by the same man (George Miller), one can assume there are ties and similarities that would be appreciated by the crowd who liked the originals. Admittedly, sometimes it is difficult to understand what is going on and what the main villain is saying (think ‘Bane’ from The Dark Knight Rises), but in the end it doesn’t really matter. The action and cinematography are nothing short of spectacular and despite the general insanity going on on-screen, most of the stunts and action sequences seem ‘possible’ (with a few exceptions, of course). Unlike natural disaster movies that leave you rolling your eyes and saying, “Ya, right”, Max Mad: Fury Road will just leave you wide-eyed because it doesn’t give you time to think about anything else.

The general concept of the film, the ensuing madness, and the extreme violence (somehow it is only rated 14A in Canada) will not appeal to everyone; but like it or not, it will still be an ‘experience’ you won’t be likely to forget. Just keep in mind that the “Oh my God!” look on your face (eyes wide, eyebrows up, forehead crinkled) might lead to a few more botox injections down the road, so budget accordingly.

Mad Max: Fury Road was released on May 14, 2015 and is now playing in theatres where it has grossed well over $350M worldwide.

Update: Mad Max won Academy Awards for:
Best Achievement in Film Editing
Best Achievement in Costume Design
Best Achievement in Makeup and Hairstyling
Best Achievement in Sound Mixing
Best Achievement in Sound Editing
Best Achievement in Production Design

Watch the trailer:

Ex Machina – Alex Garland

July 17, 2015 / ReelDecisions / Leave a comment

Ex Machina starring Domhnall Gleeson, Oscar Isaac, and Alicia Vikander

Since the movie’s limited releases in January and April, critics and regular movie-goers alike have been showering it with praise and calling it one of the best science fiction films in years. It’s smart, thrilling, and has a continuous dark undertone that makes you feel like there’s something wrong, but you just don’t know what. Unlike a lot of science fiction movies, you aren’t quite sure how it’s going to end, but with Ex Machina, you know it probably won’t be good.

Ex Machina is written and directed by Alex Garland, a talented British author (The Beach, which adapted for the screen in 2000), screenwriter (28 Days Later, Sunshine, Never Let Me Go), and now Director. His filmography will give a good indication of the “tone” of film one can expect from his new feature, he doesn’t stray too far from the dark and troubled.

Not everyone will be a fan of the pace of this film; some people may find it a little too slow and the shots a little too long, others will find the slow build up intriguing. Ex Machina is about a young, brilliant coder who wins a contest that will take him far into the wilderness to a compound owned by the CEO of his company. At this secluded, high-security resort is a new project the CEO, Nathan (Oscar Isaac), has been working on – artificial intelligence. Caleb (Domhnall Gleeson), the coder, has been tasked with assessing and testing the machine’s capabilities over the course of a week and finally determining if he has indeed succeeded in mastering artificial intelligence.

The score is eerie and certainly compliments the solitude and the gravity of the situation. To have created a machine that looks, feels, acts, and processes information and emotions like a human being is certainly ground-breaking on a science level, but dangerous on a moral and spiritual level. The film covers a lot of ground and oddly enough everything seems quite believable and well thought through.

The machine/robot, Ava, is played by Swedish actress Alicia Vikander (Anna Karenina, The Fifth Estate), who will certainly be getting more roles after the recognition she’s been getting lately. She is completely convincing as the sweet and innocent A.I. who just wants to be treated as a person and craves real human interaction. Domhnall Gleeson (About Time, Anna Karenina, Unbroken) is at the centre of the film and goes through a large range of emotions (awe, intrigue, mistrust, and finally madness) with such conviction that you just know he’s going to be around for a long, long time. These two actors, along with Oscar Isaac playing the binge-drinking, secretive mastermind behind it all who you just can’t seem to completely trust, anchor the movie in such a way that they keep you engaged and never really let go. It’s a thought-provoking slow burner and, as previously stated, some people may not have the attention span for it and it may be just a little too “messed up” for others; it is science fiction, after all.

Ex Machina only made about $36M at the box office worldwide and is now available on Blu-Ray and DVD.

Jurassic World – Colin Trevorrow

June 30, 2015 / ReelDecisions / Leave a comment

Jurassic World starring Chris Pratt and Bryce Dallas Howard.

When will they learn? Dinosaurs and humans cannot co-exist in happy harmony! But they keep trying, and it certainly makes for an entertaining movie. Twenty-two years after the failure of the original park, “Jurassic World” is now the exciting theme park John Hammond (the founder of “Jurassic Park” in Spielberg’s 1993 film) always dreamed of. Akin to a SeaWorld or Animal Kingdom, kids and adults alike get to gawk and marvel at the Earth’s biggest creatures, and literally have front row seats as the dinosaurs roam their surroundings or eat their prey. Naturally, after a few years of this, the allure has slightly worn off, as Jurassic World’s profits seem to show. They need a new attraction! Enter, the Idominus Rex, a genetically modified dinosaur made up of genes from multiple sources.

Given the history of the Park, and the greed of the people involved, this clearly doesn’t end well for the tourists who happen to be visiting the day the Indominus Rex breaks free. However, before the chaos ensues, we get to take a look at what the park was always meant to be: a fascinating tour back to the Jurassic period, complete with cutting-edge technology and a much cooler mode of transportation than the jeeps used in the original park. As the island’s history teaches us, there are always some bad apples to contend with. So, in a side-story, there is also a sketchy military man who is hell-bent on weaponizing the velociraptors, who seem to have formed an interesting bond with their keeper. As everyone can guess, that is also a really bad idea.

To give credit where credit is due, Jurassic World does a really good job playing off of the audience’s love for the original movie, and fits in just enough nostalgia to bring smiles to people’s faces before the action takes over. And there is a lot of action… and a surprisingly high body count, too.

The main characters in the movie are the Park’s chief director Claire, played by Bryce Dallas Howard (Ron Howard’s daughter); her two nephews, played by Nick Robinson and Ty Simpkins (previously seen in Iron Man 3, stealing scenes from Robert Downey Jr.); and Owen, the raptor trainer (Chris Pratt). Claire is an uptight workaholic who sees the dinosaurs as assets and Owen is the free spirit whose love and respect for the animals is on display at every opportunity – a perfect match.

For those who find Chris Pratt annoying, he is surprisingly (and thankfully) tame in this movie and his humour is kept dry and only used sparingly. The real comic relief comes in the form of a park operator, and even he is only used when absolutely necessary. The rest is pure entertainment in the form of dinosaur chases, dinosaur fights, and a significant amount of death. Every now and then there is a brief moment of nostalgia or even sadness, but for the most part, Jurassic World is an edge-of-your-seat adventure….with a lot of teeth.

Critics of the film may groan at the lack of character development, poor plot, or palaeontological inaccuracies – but who cares! As box office numbers seem to prove, the majority of people just want to see some CG dinosaurs and watch them as they take out the humans, one mouthful at a time.

Jurassic World is now playing in theatres everywhere.

Avengers: Age of Ultron – Joss Whedon

May 29, 2015 / ReelDecisions / Leave a comment

Avengers: Age of Ultron starring Robert Downey Jr., Mark Ruffalo, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Chris Evans, Jeremy Renner, and James Spader

So many heroes, so few villains; it’s almost not even fair. Even so, the Avengers are pushed to their brink in Avengers: Age of Ultron as they face off against a web-based villain and some ‘enhanced’ twins with super powers. The second movie in the Avengers franchise is exactly what fans wanted and contained enough comic book material to make the Marvel aficionados squeal with glee…for a full 141 minutes. The audience finally gets to see characters as human (so to speak) when they fall under some mystic power and come face-to-face with their fears and other dark events from their past. Later, while tinkering with some supreme power beyond their comprehension, Tony Stark (Robert Downey Jr.) and Dr. Banner (Mark Ruffalo) accidentally create artificial intelligence (named Ultron). Ultron, whose main purpose was for world protection, was somehow corrupted and starts to believe that the Avengers and people in general are what the world needs to be rid of in order to start over and eventually thrive – and you can sort of see his point here. So, in order to rid the world of its disease, his plan is exterminate it and leave it to the rubble.

While the story itself is unnecessarily complex and contains pieces from all the other Marvel movies that some audience goers may have missed (or skipped), it certainly isn’t short on action. Fans of the other Marvel movies will get immense pleasure from the dizzying fight sequences, the inside jokes, and the fun that goes along with watching these heroes risk their lives for the greater good – others will just roll their eyes. Whether or not this movie is enjoyed wholeheartedly or simply brushed off as another shallow feature from the money-making machine that is Marvel will depend completely on expectations. It will be corny, it will be ridiculous, but thankfully it’s not pretending to be anything but good, mindless, fun. Unless a Marvel movie is written and directed by Christopher Nolan in the future, they are never going to be anything other than that. Avengers: Age of Ultron and its writer/director Joss Whedon have delivered what the majority of movie-goers want from a superhero movie, as evidenced by the amount of money it has made at the box office so far.

The heroes featured in the movie include: Tony Stark/Iron Man, whose quick wit and sarcasm is classic Robert Downey Jr.; Thor (Chris Hemsworth), who is subtly funny and whose hammer is the source of a few laughs; Steve Rogers/Captain America (Chris Evans), whom the others just seem to tolerate; Natasha Romanoff/Black Widow (Scarlett Johansson), whose romantic interest in Bruce Banner/The Hulk, the guy who is only useful when he’s dangerous, just seems forced; and Clint Barton/Hawkeye (Jeremy Renner), the guy who uses a bow and arrow and whose value we don’t really understand. One would think that would be enough brawn and testosterone to thwart any evil plan the universe could throw at the Earth… and one would be right. The odds are always in their favour but as with every epic hero vs. villain movie, all hope is (temporarily) lost until a last minute plan reveals itself. In the meantime, the characters have to work together to figure it out and overcome some tension developing within the group.

James Spader is the voice of Ultron and those who know him well from Boston Legal and The Blacklist will be happy to know that the character, at times, has a very familiar humour that shines through his villainous, metal façade. Once again, Robert Downey Jr. and Chris Hemsworth steal the show as they play the least uptight characters in the movie and provide the majority of the laughs. There are some new faces but the majority of the characters from the other movies return for the fight against evil. Fans will surely be happy to see their old friends once again.

The Age of Adaline – Lee Toland Krieger

May 12, 2015 / ReelDecisions / Leave a comment

The Age of Adaline starring Blake Lively, Ellen Burstyn, and Harrison Ford.

While many of us strive to stop the aging process (particularly after the age of 29), the repercussions of succeeding are just something no one thinks about. The Age of Adaline, shows audiences what it would be like, and the precautions one would have to take, if that wrinkle-reducing face cream actually started working. Adaline Bowman (Blake Lively) was born in 1908 and after a freak accident at the age of 29, she simply stopped aging. A widow and mother of a young girl, Adaline tries to live a normal life but is soon faced with some unique challenges on account of her remaining 29. So she runs, and continues running – which brings us to the year 2014.

The main story takes place in the present, so after doing some math one can deduce that she is well over 100 years young when she meets handsome Ellis and is forced to re-evaluate how she had planned to live out her seemingly endless days. Being unable to tell anyone about her condition, Adaline had vowed to move and change identities every decade in order to avoid suspicion – meeting Ellis makes her think twice. She had only fallen in love once before, and the movie leaves enough breadcrumbs here and there to help the audience piece together her whole story.

While not ideal, the key events and backstory are relayed to the audience through a narrator whose sole purpose is to explain the science behind Adaline’s condition. This was likely done to dismiss the questions that would inevitably arise in one’s mind and ultimately take away from the movie. It proves a little clumsy and contrived, but it succeeds in the end. Instead of questioning how the heck this is all possible, you are able lose yourself in the movie and the romance relatively guilt-free. While it sometimes seems like it could have been adapted from a Nicholas Sparks book, thankfully the story comes across as more genuine and the acting is significantly better than what is typically seen in those movies (The Notebook is the only exception).

The charming Ellis is played by Michiel Huisman (Game of Thrones, Nashville, Wild) and he immediately wins the hearts of female audience members as he pursues Adaline and refuses to take “No” for an answer. The smaller roles, but the ones that ultimately give The Age of Adaline some clout, are played by Ellen Burstyn and Harrison Ford. Sometimes it can be hard to appreciate Ford’s acting abilities, but he is responsible for some of the more emotional scenes in this movie and his commanding screen presence is undeniable. This type of performance hasn’t been seen from him in quite some time so it is really refreshing to watch.

We’re likely all guilty of thinking that Blake Lively (Gossip Girl, The Sisterhood of the Travelling Pants) could never hold her own as the female lead on the big screen, let alone alongside the likes of Ellen Burstyn and Harrison Ford. Well, we were wrong. Her performance is subtle but there is nothing to suggest that she doesn’t belong there; and there are a couple scenes in particular that prove she is not going anywhere either.

It’s a beautifully shot and moderately sappy love story with a unique twist that will be enjoyed by most women and tolerated by some men. It’s a good mother-daughter movie and perfectly acceptable for a pre-teen girl’s night. You would never know it was written for the screen by two unknown middle-aged men.

The Age of Adaline is now playing in theatres.

As published on Examiner.com

Exodus: Gods and Kings – Ridley Scott

May 5, 2015May 5, 2015 / ReelDecisions / Leave a comment

Exodus: Gods and Kings starring Christian Bale, Joel Edgerton, John Turturro, Aaron Paul, Sigourney Weaver, and Ben Kingsley 20th Century Fox

Exodus: Gods and Kings starring Christian Bale and Joel Edgerton
(20th Century Fox)

Epic in scale, but lacking in passion and conviction, Exodus: Gods and Kings is directed by Ridley Scott and stars Christian Bale as Moses, the adopted Egyptian prince and prophet who saves the Israelites. The story of Moses is captured in the Bible’s Book of Exodus, hence the movie’s name, which is Hebrew for “going out”. His story is essentially the story of how the Israelites escaped from Egypt and the perilous life of slavery by following him on a treacherous journey through the mountains and across the Red Sea.

As a viewer with no religious or historical background, Exodus: Gods and Kings will be intriguing but also a little confusing as the background of Moses’ upbringing is skimmed over and not properly explained. Watching as an individual who is well-versed in the Biblical story and other theatrical interpretations of it, the movie will be frustrating and, aside from the impressive CGI, it will be boring. While the older theatrical versions of the story of Moses for the most part interpreted the Bible literally (i.e. the burning bush, the plagues, and the parting of the Red Sea), Exodus: Gods and Kings actually attempts to make some aspects of the story more realistic and believable for the 21^st century audience; and in this, it succeeds. The visual effects were refreshing in the sense that they were not completely over-the-top and mostly stayed within the realm of the believable. Despite this, however, it never truly meets expectations and the rather abrupt ending leaves one feeling impassive regarding the 150 minute experience.

It is quite rare that an animated movie, namely Disney’s The Prince of Egypt (1998 – animated), can do a better job at explaining this historical event and provoke more emotion with respect to the main character, but in this case it’s true. Even 1956’s The Ten Commandments with Charlton Heston seemed more true to the story and put its 220 minutes to relatively good use.

As movie-goers have come to expect a great performance from Christian Bale, the fact that he is convincing and quite good in the role of Moses just isn’t enough of a reason to watch the movie. His stellar performances are typically enough to carry a bad movie and appeal to audiences who appreciate the art, but due to the movie’s grand scale and lack of depth, it simply isn’t the case here. Unfortunately, this film missed the mark and will leave most viewers disappointed and underwhelmed.

Exodus: Gods and Kings was released in theatres in December 2014 and is now available on DVD and Blu-Ray.

As published on Examiner.com

Furious 7 – James Wan

April 28, 2015 / ReelDecisions / 1 Comment

Furious 7 starring Vin Diesel, Paul Walker, Dwayne Johnson, Ludacris, and Jason Statham.

The latest installment of the Fast and Furious franchise is not likely to be the last, but it certainly feels like the perfect wrap-up to the series and exactly what its fans were hoping for. With each new movie, the stunts as well as the characters get more ridiculous and, to put it bluntly, more badass; each new fight or heist sequence strives to top the previous one. Furious 7 is much bigger and better than the other movies in terms of action and one might even go so far as to say it’s even a little over-the-top, but it delivers such a solid and respectful send-off to its lead actor Paul Walker at the end that all other nonsense is forgiven. After nearly fourteen years of getting to know the main characters, it’s like watching old friends get into trouble all over again. This movie actually adds a layer of emotion and depth that was missing from some of the earlier movies – but it is offset by a number of insane and impossible stunts involving cars, planes (once again), and very tall condos.

In order to tie in the events that took place at the end of the obvious outlier in the series, The Fast and the Furious: Tokyo Drift (#3), it becomes apparent that Furious 7 takes place after the events in Fast & Furious 6 as well as the third movie. The backstory doesn’t really matter and all one really needs to know is that this movie is just about revenge, and that revenge comes in the form of Deckard Shaw (Jason Statham) doing everything in his power to take down Dominic Toretto (Vin Diesel) and his gang. Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson reprises his role as Hobbs and delivers his usual one-liners and flexes his muscles, while Michelle Rodriguez, Ludacris, and Tyrese Gibson also star in the movie as the characters the audience knows well and has come to love. There are a number of satisfying one-on-one brawls in the movie and chase sequences that will make your head spin and your eyes roll, but that is what the franchise has become and why people will watch it – and enjoy it.

Furious 7 is admittedly too long and has a number of gaping holes, but if you’re in the mood for a fun (and fast) ride, it serves the purpose well. What the movie does best, however, is handle the death of Paul Walker during the filming by re-writing the ending to give him the proper goodbye. It’s touching and absolutely perfect; especially because one knows the words are real and come directly from the hearts of the actors involved, Vin Diesel in particular. If you never thought he could deliver heartfelt dialogue that could make you cry real tears, you better think again – and bring tissues.

American Sniper – Clint Eastwood

January 29, 2015 / ReelDecisions / Leave a comment

American Sniper starring Bradley Cooper and Sienna Miller.

Ignoring the memoir on which American Sniper was based, and ignoring the controversy surrounding Chris Kyle as a person, American Sniper is a decent war movie, but not much more than that. It follows the central character’s journey from his early life in Texas to becoming a U.S. Navy SEAL and finally to his multiple tours in Iraq where he earns the title “most lethal sniper in U.S. military history” with 160 confirmed kills. The action scenes are good and exciting but the rest feels a bit empty and, for lack of a better word, passionless.

Chris Kyle is portrayed as an unwavering American patriot who firmly believes in the war and never questions its objective to protect American citizens from the threat of the Taliban. Unfortunately for his wife and children, Chris becomes so attached to the war that he finds it hard to come home and even harder to stay home. American Sniper follows the man and his story, but unfortunately all the pieces to the story seem to be fragmentary and disconnected from each other. It’s bound to happen when a Director attempts to cover a man’s entire career in 132 minutes, even when that Director is the great Clint Eastwood. It is obvious that some liberties were taken with respect to the memoir in order to weave a better story and to meet the standards of a Hollywood biopic, but it still seems to lack the coherence necessary to make it truly resonate with the audience. That being said, the war scenes were all done very well and provide for some very tense and very raw moments that’ll surely have movie-goers holding their breath, but Clint Eastwood could have done more to explore the human element of a story like this.

Fortunately for Chris Kyle’s memory, the movie seems to distance itself from his more unlikeable traits and actions described in his book and also covered in the media. However, touching on at least some of Chris Kyle’s weaknesses and psyche would have made the movie a little less hollow. Instead, all you see is a soldier who identifies better with his comrades and his war persona (“The Legend”), than he does with his own family back home, but without much of an explanation other than pure patriotism. This is a notion that many soldiers from any country can identify with – the struggle to come home and live each day as if your fellow soldiers aren’t fighting for their lives or for the lives of others. Bradley Cooper is solid in his performance and certainly went through an intense ordeal to bulk up significantly for the role. There are a few key scenes that show his true range as emotions finally erupt from his character, but unfortunately this isn’t the role that will define his career from this point on. Sienna Miller, who plays Chris Kyle’s wife Taya, also puts in a good performance and channels Taya’s frustration and struggle to understand who her husband has become.

One thing in particular that stands out about American Sniper is the ending. It was executed with perfection and will leave those who don’t know what happens a bit stunned and those who do know will be satisfied. The end credits are also quite touching, to the point where it feels almost disrespectful to leave before they wrap up.

As a sniper, Chris Kyle’s skill and accomplishments cannot be disputed, but as an American hero who emulates everything we want our children to be, that is up for debate. A heated debate, it would seem.

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